Rail flange lubricator



2 Sheets-SheecI l C. STERN RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed Feb.' 19, 1954 C. STERN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 8, 1935.

Y RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Filed Feb. 19, 1954 NIM Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,016,976 RAIL FLANGE LUBRICATOR Application February 19, 1934, Serial No. 712,067

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to lubricators, and more particularly to a lubricator of the type which is adapted to be mounted against a rail for supplying lubricant along one side of the head of the rail, so that the lubricant may be picked up by wheel flanges and distributed for a considerable distance along the side of the rail from the lubricator.

An object of the present invention is to prolo Vide a lubricator of this character which is of very simple construction and admits of simple installation, and wherein the lubricant is fed directly from a manifold or chamber in the device through a plurality of suitably spaced apart nozzles carried thereby into the desired spaced apart positions along the side of the rail head, and t0 provide a protecting plate so supported as to prevent damages to the nozzles by the flanges of the wheels passing over the rail.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the lubricator with tubes or nozzles which are individually and replaceably mounted upon the bracket or body part of the lubricator so that at slight cost the nozzles may be replaced when worn or damaged. l

The invention also aims at the provision of a lubricator construction of this character in the use of which the maintenance cost is at a minimum and to displace structures of this character wherein the tubes or nozzles are integral with the manifold or supply chamber and wherein Various other structural features are resorted to making the nozzles or feeding portions of the device integral therewith.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of lubricator wherein the parts are so mounted that the lubricator may be adjusted to rails of different types and different conditions incident to wear, and wherein the bracket or body part is supported mainly from the rail flange to take up pressure of Wheel flanges and the like and to thus reduce to a minimum shearing'forces exerted upon bolts or other devices utilized in holding the bracket or body portion to the web of the rau.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto. Y

`In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a rail lubricator constructed according to the present invention 5 and as applied to one side of the rail.

Figure 2 is a like view but with the protecting plate removed and the lower portion of the bracket or manifold shown in section.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken through one end of the lubricator substantially on the line 5 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a like view taken through the intermediate portion of the lubricator substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.`

Figure 5 is another transverse sectional view 10 taken through the lubricator near one end thereof substantially on the line 5--5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the bracket or manifold with the Various nozzles, protecting plate and supports removed therefrom. l5

Figure 7 is a detail inner face perspective view of the protector plate, and

Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the feeding nozzles employed.

eierring now to the drawings, I0 designates 20 the base of a rail of conventional construction having a web II and a head I2.

The body portion of the lubricator comprises a bracket or manifold I3 which, as best shown in Figure 5, may be of regular cross section provid- 25 ing a lubricant receiving and retaining chamber I4 and which at its inner side is flat for face engagement'against one side of the web II of the rail, the bracket or manifold having a plate portion I5 which extends upwardly from the cham- 30 ber I4, is of less width than the chamber, and is offset inwardly with its inner face in the plane of the inner face of the manifold or chamber I4. The bracket thus constructed is provided at opposite ends with flat lugs I6 forming extensions 35 of the inner wall portion of the bracket adapted to lie against the web I I and which are provided with vertically elongated slots I'I for the reception of bolts I 8 therethrough to clamp the bracket against the web II. The bolts VI8 may be intro- 40 duced through the web I I at the outer side thereof and extend through the slots I8 and through pressure equalizing washers I 9, shown in Figures 1 and 3. The washers I9 have bolt receiving openings therethrough snugly tting the 45 Ybolts I8 andare of relatively large surface area so as to overlie a considerable portion of the outer surface of the adjacent lug It. Each bolt I8 carries a nut 29 turned up against the adjacent washer I9 so that the pressure of the nut 20 is 50 distributed through the washer I9 over considerable surface area of the lug I6.

This insures a firm hold on the bracket and prevents injury to the marginal edge portions of the slots I 'I and to the bolt I8 and its nut 20. 55

Cil

The bracket or body portion is supported directly from the base It of the rail. To accomplish thisl the manifold i3 is provided at suitable spaced points along its front wall with outwardly and downwardly inclined ears 2l which are of considerable thickness and provided each with an internally threaded opening for receiving a threaded bolt 22, the heads of the bolts 22 being disposed lowermost for direct contact with the base il! of the rail.

In positioning and adjusting the manifold or body portion of the lubricator, the bracket or manifold i3 is placed against the web H in the desired vertical position of adjustment and the bolts i8 are then tightened to hold the bracket flat against the web l i. The supporting bolts 22 are now turned downwardly through their ears 2l until the heads of the bolts 22 take purchase against the adjacent portion of the rail base I8, the bolts 22 being turned down until they effect a firm engagement or contact with the rail base so as to take up strain or pressure transmitted through the manifold or bracket fromY the wheel flanges. This relieves the bolts I8, to a considerable extent, against undue strain or shearing action.

The upper wall of the chamber Ill is provided with a suitable number of threaded openings 23 which are disposed adjacent the inner wall of the chamber iii and communicates therewith. To accommodate the openings 23 and leave the space therebetween free, the back plate l5 is provided in its front side with a plurality of depressions or cut-outs 2d forming recesses which register with the openings 23, and Vwhich are preferably of a slightly greater diameter than that of the openings, It will be noted, from Figure 6 particularly, that the openings 23 are offset to a considerable extent within the recesses 24, and that the front face of the plate l5 is relatively fiat between the recesses 2li for supporting a protector plate 25, shown in detail in Figure 7. The manifold i3 is provided with an inlet 25 comprising a threaded flange at the outer side of the Jmanifold and intermediate its ends. The flange is adapted to receive the adjacent end of a feed ,pipe or the like for introducing lubricant lunder pressure to the chamber Ill. To facilitate manufacture of the device and also cleaning out of the chamber M, the bracket or manifold is provided in opposite ends with removable plugsV 2i which may be threaded or otherwise suitably secured in the ends of the manifold.

The manifold i3 carries al plurality of nozzles 28. In Figure 8V one of the nozzles is shown' and the same comprises a base plug 29 externally threadedr to engage in the threaded openings 23 of the manifold and each plug 29 has a kerf S for receiving the bit of a screwdriver or the like to facilitate thepositioning and removal of the plug 2e relative to the opening 23.

In Figure' 4 a bottom plug 3l is shown in line with'the adjacent opening 23, and there is a vsimilar plugl provided for each opening 23. Y

The bottom plugs 3ir are of suicient size to admit of the quick and easy positioning and re' moval of the nozzles 28 through the bottom of the manifold as the nozzles are moved into place or withdrawn therefrom.Y l E ach nozzle 28; is inthe formY of a tube or pipe .which is flattened` at its outerV end with theflat side outermost, asVIV showningFigure 4, rso as to vprovide` auslotted outletY 32l extending inthe gen 4eral direction of the length of the lubricator or rrail. YThe slotted outlet V32 is beveledso asto recede outwardly from the adjacent head of the rail, as shown in Figure 4, so that the lubricant will be distributed against the side of the rail head in the form of an elongated mass. A tube 2t is mounted in each recess 24 of the manifold 5 and the protector plate 25 seats at its inner side in face engagement with the outer side of the back plate I5.

The protector plate 25 has on its inner side grooves or recesses 33 in register with the de- 10 pressions 26 for accommodating the nozzles or tubes 28 without crushing the same and to protect the nozzles. At the upper edge, the protector plate 25 is provided with a notch 34 for each outlet end 32 of the nozzles and the outer face l5 of the protector plate 25 at its upper edge is beveled at 35 to accommodate the wheel anges and to protect the nozzles or tubes 28 at their upper ends so that the upper ends may extend well up into the light between the rail head I2 and the 20 wheel flange.

The protector plate 25 is provided at suitable points throughout its length with openings 36 therethrough for the reception of machine screws or the like and the back plate l5 is provided with 25 corresponding threaded openings 31 for receiving the'threaded ends of the machine screws 38, shown in Figure 5, so that the protector plate 25 may be clamped securely in flat engagement against the back plate l5.

It will be noted that the flattened upper ends of the tubes or nozzles 28 are of less dimensions than that of the plug or bushing 29 so that the nozzles may be readily' introduced through the bottom of the chamber lliand upwardly through the openings 23. It will also be observed that the milled out grooves 23 in the inner face of the protector plate 25 and the depressions 25 are of sufficient size to accommodate the tubes or nozzles without exerting pressure upon or crushing 40 them while at the same time permitting the protector plate 25 to lie flat against the outer face of the back plate l5.

The outer structure or casing thus provided for the nozzles or tubes 28 is relatively strong and 45 interbraced so that the protector plate 25 cannot be buckled or distorted under pressure from the wheel flanges.

ItV is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims. r

Y direct engagement with the base of the rail to support the bracket, a plurality of independent nozzles mounted upon `the bracket in commimi- ,Y cation with said chamber, and al protector plate independent of the rail mounted on the bracket across the outer sides of the nozzles, said nozzles Y and protector plate extending above the bracket and adapted to lie against the side of the head, of

ra rail. Y 70 2. A rail flange lubricator, comprising a bracket having a at inner face for engagement against the side of a rail webY and having an enlarged 'chambered lower end, a plurality of nozzles carried by the bracket at the top of. said chamber 7'5 and adapted to engage against the side of the rail head, a protector plate independent of the rail mountedon the bracket and engaging across the outer sides of the nozzles, and adjustable supporting means carried upon the bracket for direct engagement with the base of the rail and disposed outwardly of said chambered portion of the bracket to support the same against thrust of Wheel flanges and the like.

3. A rail flange lubricator, comprising a body bracket, means for securing the bracket against one side of a rail web, said bracket having an upper back plate portion and a lower chambered portion extending beyond the plate portion, a plurality of nozzles mounted on the chambered portion, said plate portion having recesses in its outer side to accommodate said nozzles, a protector plate secured against the outer side of the back plate and having grooves in its inner side registering with the nozzles to protect the latter, said nozzles and protector plate adapted to engage against the inner side of a rail head and being beveled to accommodate wheel flanges, and supporting means carried upon the lower outer portion of the body bracket for direct engagement with the base of the rail at a point remote from the web thereof.

4. A rail flange lubricator, comprising a body bracket having a lower chambered portion and an upstanding back plate, said body bracket having lugs at opposite ends co-extensive therewith, bolts engaging through said lugs and adapted t0. engage the rail web, said lugs having vertical slots therein for the reception of the bolts to permit vertical adjustment of the body bracket, nuts carried upon said bolts, pressure distributing plates carried by the bolts beneath said nuts and extending over a substantial area of the adjacent lug of the body bracket, a plurality of independent removable nozzles carried on the chambered portion of the body bracket, a protecting plate mounted on the body bracket and extending across the outer sides of the nozzles, and adjustable set screws carried by the lower outer portion of the bracket plate for engagement with the base of a rail to directly support the bracket plate against pressure of wheel flanges.

5. A rail flange lubricator, comprising a body bracket having a back plate for engaging the web of a rail and having a chambered portion at its lower end outstanding from the plate, threaded ears carried by said chambered portion and overhanging the base of a rail, set screws threaded in said ears for binding engagement with said rail base to directly support the body bracket, clamping means engaging the body bracket and adapted to engage the rail web for holding the bracket against the latter, a plurality of independently mounted nozzles spaced along the upper side of the chambered portion of the body bracket in front of the back plate thereof, said nozzles extending upwardly from the body bracket and adapted to lie against the inner side of a rail head, and a protector plate secured :dat against the bracket plate across the outer sides of said nozzles and having a beveled upper end for protecting the nozzles, said bracket plate and protector plate having registering recesses in their abutting faces receiving the nozzles to protect the same.

6. A rail flange lubricator, cmprising a body bracket having a lower manifold portion and an upper back plate at the inner side of the manlfold, means for clamping the body bracket against a rail web, said bracket body having a= plurality of spaced threaded openings in the upper wall of the manifold portion thereof and having registering openings in the bottom wall of said manifold portion, nozzles proportioned for introduction through the registering openings in the YWalls of the manifold portion and having base plugs for threaded engagement in the top openings of the manifold portion to support the nozzles in upwardly projecting position for engagement Vagainst the side of a rail, removable plugs mounted in the lower openings of the manifold portion,

and a protector plate independently of the rail carried by the body bracket across the outer sides of said nozzles to protect the same.

'7. A rail flange lubricator, comprising a manifold having upper and lower walls with registering openings therein, nozzles removably mounted in the upper openings of the manifold and adapted forrem oval downwardly throughthe lower openings of the manifold, closure plugs for the lower openings of the manifold, a back plate rising from the inner side of the manifold and having recesses in its outer face to accommodate the nozzles, a protector plate secured across the outer sides of the nozzles and against the back plate and having grooves therein accommodating the nozzles, means for securing the manifold and back plate at the desired height against a rail web, and adjustable supporting means mounted on the outer side of the manifold for engagement with the base of a rail to support the manifold and back plate against pressure of wheel flanges against the protector plate.

8. A rail flange lubricator, comprising a man1- fold having upper and lower registering openings and opposite end openings, nozzles having threaded plugs on their lower ends removably engaging in t-he upper openings of the manifold and adapted for removal downwardly through the lower openings for ready replacement of the nozzles, plugs closing the lower openings, plugs closing the end openings, a back plate carried by the manifold having lug extensions at opposite ends,

said lugs having vertical slots therein, clamping bolts adapted for engagement through the web of a rail and engaging through said slots and having nuts on their outer ends, pressure distributing plates mounted on the bolts and engaging over the outer faces of said lugs to distribute pressure of said bolts thereover, said back plate having recesses therein registering with the inner sides of the top openings in the manifold to provide spaces for said nozzles, a protector plate secured across the outer face of the back plate and having recesses therein registering with the nozzles to maintain the protectorplate out of binding engagement therewith, said protector plate and nozzles adapted to engage against the inner side of a rail head and the protector plate having notches in its upper end for the reception of the upper ends of said nozzles.

9. A rail lubricator comprising a bracket having an integral chambered lower portion, means for clamping the bracket against one sidel'of the web of a rail, a plurality of independent nozzles mounted on the chambered portion and being in communication therewith, and a protector plate mounted on a bracket across the outer sides of said nozzles, said nozzles and protector plate extending above the bracket and adapted to lie against the side of the head of the rail.

10. A rail lubricator comprising a member having a vertical wall, adapted to `contact the web of the rail, a pair of parallel upper Vand lower horizontal walls extending from said Vertical wall,

a vertical wall interconnecting said horizontal walls and forming a conduit with said iirst vertical wall, end walls at the opposite ends of said conduit, said rst vertical wall extending beyond the opposite ends of said conduit and being formed with vertical slots for receiving attaching devices for attaching said member to the web of said rail, a plurality of lugs extending from said second Vertical wall, and set screws screwed to said lugs and adapted to contact the base of the rail for adjusting the vertical height of said member.

1i. A rail lubricator comprising a member having a vertical wall adapted to contact the web of the rail, a pair of parallel upper and lower horizontal walls extending from said vertical wall, a vertical wall interconnecting said horizontal walls and forming a conduit with said rst vertical wall, end walls at the opposite ends of said conduit, said rst Vertical wall extending beyond the opposite ends oi said conduit and being formed with vertical slots for receiving attaching devices for attaching said member to the web of said rail, a plurality of lugs extending from said second vertical wall, set screws screwed to said lugs and adapted to Contact the base of the rail for adjusting the vertical height of said member, the ends of said conduit having screw threaded openings, and screw threaded plugs screwed to said openings for closing the ends of said conduit.

12. A rail lubricator comprising a member having a vertical wall adapted to Contact the web of the rail, a pair of parallel upper and lower horizontal walls extending from said vertical wall, a vertical wall interconnectingsaid horizontal walls and forming a conduit with said first vertical wall,

end walls at the opposite ends of said conduit,

said first vertical wall extending beyond the opposite ends of said conduit and being formed with vertical slots for receiving attaching devices for attaching said member to the web of said rail, a plurality of lugs extending from said second vertical wall, set screws screwed to said lugs and adapted to contact the base of the rail for adjusting the vertical height of said member, theV ends of said conduit havingV screw threaded openings and screw threaded plugs screwed to said openings for closing the ends or" said conduit, said second vertical wall having an inlet opening in an intermediate portion thereofv for receiving an inlet pipe whereby grease may be supplied to said conduit.

13. A rail lubricator comprising a member hav- Ving a vertical wall adapted to contact the web of the rail, a pair of parallel upper and lower horizontal walls extending from said vertical wall, a vertical wall interconnecting said horizontal walls and forming a conduit with said rst vertical wall, end walls at the opposite ends of said conduit, said first vertical wall extending beyond the opposite ends of said conduit and being formed with vertical slots for receiving attaching devices for attaching said member to the web of said rail, a`

plurality of lugs extending from said second vertical wall, set screws screwed to said lugs and adapted to contact the base of the rail for adjusting the vertical height of said member, the ends of said conduit having screw threaded openings and screw threaded plugs screwed to said openings for closing the ends of said conduit, said second vertical wall having an inlet opening in an intermediate portion thereof for receiving an inlet pipe whereby grease may be supplied to said conduit, said upper horizontal wall being formed with a plurality of vertical, spaced, screw threaded through openings, members screwed to said screw threaded openings and having through openings therein, and nozzles secured to said last mentioned members and having mouths at the upper ends thereof adjacent the head of the rail.

le. A rail lubricator comprising a member having a vertical wall adapted to contact the web of the rail, a pair of parallel upper and lower horizontall walls extending from said vertical wall, a Vertical wall interconnecting said horizontal walls and forming a conduit with said rst vertical wall, end walls at the opposite ends of said conduit, said rst vertical wall extending beyond the opposite ends of said conduit and being formed with Vertical slots for receiving attaching devices for attaching said member to the web of said rail, a plurality of lugs extending from said second vertical wall, set screws screwed to said lugs and adapted to contact the base of the rail for adjusting the vertical height of said member, the ends of said conduit having screw threaded openings and screw threaded plugs screwed to said openings for closing the ends of said conduit, said second vertical wall having an inlet opening in an intermediate portion thereof for receiving an inlet pipe whereby grease may be supplied to said conduit, said upper horizontal wall being formed with a plurality of vertical spaced screw threaded throughopenings, members screwed to said screw threaded openings and having through openings therein, nozzles secured to said last mentioned members and having mouths at the upper ends thereof adjacent the head ci the rail, and a protector plate attached to said first rnember and adapted to cover said nozzles, the inner surfaces of said first member and protector plate having registering recesses for receiving said nozzles.

l CHARLES STERN. 

